The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Oleksandr Lukashenko, signed the law on amendments to the Criminal Code, which provided for the introduction of the death penalty for treason.
According to the text of the approved document, the death penalty can be applied to state officials and military personnel.
In addition to the death penalty for "treason" committed by an official or military officer, criminal liability is introduced for "propaganda of terrorism", "discrediting" the Armed Forces, and "violation of requirements for the protection of state secrets".
- Belarus is the only country in Europe where the death penalty is used as a measure of punishment. Human rights defenders constantly point out that the death penalty can be used by the authorities as a form of repression and a threat to the opposition in fabricated criminal cases.